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A  SERMON: 

PREACHED  BEFORE 


"Brig.-G-en.  Hoke's  Brigade,! 


AT  KINSTON,  N.  ft,  ON  THE  28th  OF  FEBRUARY,  1864, 


BY   Rev.   JOHN   PARIS, 

Chaplain  Fifty-fourth  Regiment  N.  C.  Troops, 


UPON  THE  DEATH  OF  TWENTY-TWO  MEN, 


"WHO  HAD  BEEN  EXECUTED  IN  THE  PRESENCE  OF  THE  BRIGADE 
FOR  THE  CRIME  OF  DESERTION. 


GREENSBOROUGH,  N.  C. 

A.    W.   INGOLD    &    CO.,    BOOK   AND   JOB  PRINTERS, 
1864. 


NOTE 


On  the  morning  of  the  first  of  February,  Brig.  Gen.  R.  F.  Hoke  forced 
the  passage  of  Batchelor's  Creek,  nine  miles  west  from  Newbern ;  the  enemy 
abandoned  his  works  and  retreated  upon  the  town.  A  hot  and  vigorous 
pursuit  was  made,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  a  large  number  of  pris- 
oners, and  the  surrender  to  our  forces  of  many  others,  who  were  cut  off 
from  escape  by  the  celerity  of  the  pursuit,  and  our  troops  seizing  and  hold- 
ing every  avenue  leading  into  the  town,  near  the  enemy's  batteriesi 

Among  the  prisoners  taken,  were  about  fifty  native  North  Carolinians, 
dressed  out  in  Yankee  uniform,  with  muskets  upon  their  shoulders.  Twenty- 
two  of  these  men  were  recognized  as  men  who  had  deserted  from  our  ranks, 
and  gone  over  to  the  enemy.  Fifteen  of  the'm  belonged  to  Netheroutt'& 
Battalion.  They  were  arraigned  before  a  court  martial,  proved  guilty  of 
the  charges,  and  condemned  to  suffer  death  by  hanging. 

It  became  my  duty  to  visit  these  men  in  prison  before  their  execution,  in 
a  religious  capacity.  From  them  I  learned  that  bad  and  mischievous  influ- 
ences had  been  U3ed  with  every  one  to  induce  him  to  desert  his  flag,  and  such 
influences  had  led  to  their  ruin.  From  citizens  who  had  known  them  for 
many  years,  I  learned  that  some  of  them  had  heretofore  borne  good  names, 
as  honest,  harmless,  unoffending  citizens.  After  their  execution.  I  thought 
it  proper,  for  the  benefit  of  the  living,  that  I  should  deliver  a  discourse  be. 
fore  our  brigade,  upon  the  death  of  these  men,  that  the  eyes  of  the  living 
might  be  opened,  to  view  the  horrid  and  ruinous  crime  and  sin  of  desertion, 
which  had  become  so  prevalent.  A  gentleman  from  Forsyth  county,  who 
was  present  at  the  delivery  of  the  discourse,  solicited  a  copy  for  publication, 
which  has  been  granted. 

For  the  style  and  arrangement,  as  it  was  preached  as  well  as  written  in 
the  camp,  no  apology  is  offered.  Having  no  pecuniary  interest  in  its  pub- 
lication, it  is  respectfully  submitted  to  all  who  go  for  the  unqualified  inde- 
pendence of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  J.  Paeis. 

Heke's  Brigade,  April  1st,  1SG4. 


SEEMON. 


Matthew  xxyii  Chapter,  3,  4,  and  5th  Verses^ 

3.  Then  Judas  which  had  betrayed  him,  when  he  saw  that  he  was  ceil* 
xlemned,  repented  himself,  and  brought  again  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver  to 
the  chief  priests  and  elders, 

4.  Saying,  I  have  sinned  in  that  I  have  betrayed  the  innocent  bleod.  And 
they  said,  what  is  that  to  us  ?     See  thou  to  that. 

6.  And  he  cast  down  the  pieees  of  silver  in  the  temple,  and  departed, 
and  went  and  hanged  himself. 

You  are  aware,  my  friends,  that  I  have  given  public  notice 
that  upon  this  occasion  I  would  preach  a  funeral  discourse  upon 
the  death  of  the  twenty-two  unfortunate,  yet  wicked  and  deluded 
men,  whom  you  have  witnessed  hanged  upon  the  gallows  within 
a  few  days.  I  do  so,  not  to  eulogize  or  benefit  the  dead.  But 
I  do  so,  solely,  for  the  benefit  of  the  living:  and  in  doing  so,  I 
shall  preach  in  my  own  way,  and  according  to  my  own  manner, 
or  rule.  What  I  shall  say  will  either  be  true  or  false.  I  there- 
fore request  that  you  will  watch  me  closely ;  weigh  my  argu- 
ments in  the  balance  of  truth ;  measure  them  by  the  light  of 
candid  reason,  and  compare  them  by  the  Standard  of  Eternal 
Truth,  the  Book  of  God ;  what  is  wrong,  reject,  and  what  is. 
true,  accept,  for  the  sake  of  the  truth,  as  responsible  beings. 

Of  all  deserters  and  traitors,  Judas  Iseariot,  who  figures  in 
our  text,  is  undoubtedly  the  most  infamous,  whose  names  have 
found  a  place  in  history,  either  sacred  or  profane.  No  name  has 
ever  been  more  execrated  by  mankind:  and  all  this  has  been 
justly  done.  But  there  was  a  time  and  a  period  when  this  man 
wore  a  different  character,  and  had  a  better  name.  A  time  when 
he  went  forth  with  the  eleven  Apostles  at  the  command  of  the- 
Master  to  preach  the  gospel,  heal  the  sick  and  cast  out  devils. 
And  he,  too,  returned  with  this  same  chosen  hand,  when  the' 
grand,  and  general  report  was  made  ©f  what  they  had  done  and 
what  they  had  taught. 

But  a  change  caree  over  this  man..  He  was  the  treasurer  of 
the  Apostolic  board  ;•  an  office  that  warranted  the  confidence  and 
trust  of  his  compeers.  "He  bare  the  bag  and  kept  what  was 
put  therein."  Possibly  this  was  the  grand  and  successful  temp- 
tation presented  him  by  the  evil  One.  He  contracted  an.  undue 
love  for  money,  and  Holy  Writ  informs  us  "the  love  of  money 
is  the  root  of  all  evil  j1''  so  must  it  ever  be  when  valued  above  a. 


•r, 


6  FUNERAL  LISCOUBSB. 

good  name,  truth  or  honor.  Now  comes  his  base  and  unprinci- 
pled desertion  of  his  blessed  Master.  He  goes  to  the  chief 
priests.  His  object  is  selfish,  base  and  sordid, — to  get  money. 
He  enters  into  a  contract  with  them,  to  lead  their  armed  guards 
to  the  place  to  which  the  Saviour  had  retired,  that  they  might 
arrest  him.  Thirty  pieces  of  silver  is  the  price  agreed  upon,— 
about  twenty-two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  of  our  money.  A  poor 
price,  indeed,  for  any  man  to  accept  for  his  reputation,  his  life, 
his  soul,  his  all.  When  Judas  saw  that  the  Saviour  was  con- 
demned, it  is  stated  in  the  text  that  "he  repented  himself,  and 
brought  again  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver  to  the  chief  priests  and 
elders,  saying,  I  have  sinned  in  that  I  have  betrayed  the  inno- 
cent blood."  "And  he  cast  down  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver  in 
the  temple,  and  departed  and  went  and  hanged  himself."  The 
way  of  transgressors  is  truly  hard.  As  sure  as  there  is  a  God 
in  heaven,  justice  and  judgment  will  overtake  the  wicked ;  though 
he  may  flourish  as  a  green  bay  tree  for  awhile,  yet  the  eye  of  God 
is  upon  him  and  retribution  must  and  will  overtake  him. 

Let  us  now  consider  what  this  man  gained  by  his  wicked 
transaction.  First,  twenty-two  dollars  and  fifty  cents.  Second- 
ly, a  remorse  of  conscience  too  intolerable  to  be  borne.  An  im- 
mortality of  infamy  without  a  parallel  in  the  family  of  man. 
"What  did  he  lose  ?  His  reputation.  His  money.  His  apos- 
tleship.     His  peace  of  conscience,  his  life,  his  soul,  his  all. 

Well  may  it  be  said  that  this  man  is  the  most  execrable  of  all 
whose  names  stand  on  the  black  list  of  deserters  and  traitors 
that  the  world  has  furnished  from  the  beginning  until  now. — 
Turning  to  the  history  of  our  own  country,  I  find  written  high 
on  the  scroll  of  infamy  the  name  of  Benedict  Arnold,  who  at 
one  time  stood  high  in  the  confidence  of  the  great  and  good 
Washington.  What  was  his  crime  ?  Desertion  and  treason. 
He  too  hoped  to  better  his  condition  by  selling  his  principles 
for  money,  to  the  enemies  of  his  country,  betraying  his  Wash- 
ington into  the  feands  of  his  foes,  and  committing  the  heaven- 
insulting  crime  of  perjury  before  God  and  man.  Verily,  he  ob- 
tained his  reward ;  an  immortality  of  infamy ;  the  scorn  and 
contempt  of  the  good  and  the  loyal  of  all  ages  and  all  countries. 

Thus,  gentlemen,  I  have  brought  before  you  two  grand  proto- 
types of  desertion,  whose  names  tower  high  over  all  on  the 
scroll  of  infamy.  And  I  now  lay  down  the  proposition,  that 
«very  man  who  has  taken  up  arms  in  defence  of  his  country, 
and  basely  deserts  or  abandons  that  service,  belongs  in  principle 
and  practice  to  the  family  of  Judas  and  Arnold.  But  what  was 
the  status  of  those  twenty-two  deserters  whose  sad  end  and  just 
fate  you  witnessed  across  the  river  in  the  old  field  ?  Like  you 
they  came  as  volunteers  to  tight  for  the  independence  of  their 


v 


ftl 


PUNEEAL   DISCOUESE.  7 

own  country.  Like  you  they  received  the  bounty  money  offered 
by  their  country.  Like  you  they  took  upon  themselves  the  most 
solemn  obligations  of  this  oath:  "I,  A.  B.  do  solemnly  swear 
that  I  will  bear  true  allegiance  to  the  Confederate  States  of 
America,  and  that  I  will  serve  them  honestly  and  faithfully 
against  all  their  enemies  or  opposers  whatsoever,  and  observe 
and  obey  the  orders  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  the  orders 
of  the  officers  appointed  over  me,  according  to  the  rules  and 
articles  for  the  government  of  the  Confederate  States,  so  help 
me  God.'" 

With  all  the  responsibilities  of  this  solemn  oath  upon  their 
souls,  and  all  the  ties  that  bind  men  to  the  land  that  gave  them 
birth,  ignoring  every  principle  that  pertains  to  the  patriot,  dis- 
owning that  natural,  as  well  as  lawful  allegiance  that  every  man 
owes  to  the  government  of  the  State  which  throws  around  him 
the  aegis  of  its  protection,  they  went  boldly,  Judas  and  Arnold- 
like, made  an  agreement  with  the  enemies  of  their  country,  took 
an  oath  of  fidelity  and  allegiance  to  them,  and  agreed  with  them 
for  money  to  take  up  arms  and  assist  in  the  unholy  and  hellish 
work  of  the  subjugation  of  tht  country  which  was  their  own, 
their  native  land !  These  men  have  only  met  the  punishment 
meted  out  by  all  civilized  nations  for  such  crimes.  To  this,  all 
good  men,  all  true  men,  and  all  loyal  men  who  love  their  coun- 
try, will  say,  Amen ! 

But  who  were  those  twenty-two  men  whom  you  hanged  upon 
the  gallows  ?  They  were  your  fellow-beings.  They  were  citi- 
zens of  our  own  Carolina.  They  once  marched  under  the  same 
beautiful  flag  that  waves  over  our  heads ;  but  in  an  evil  hour, 
they  yielded  to  mischievous  influence,  and  from  motives  or  feel- 
ings base  and  sordid,  unmanly  and  vile,  resolved  to%  abandon 
every  principle  of  patriotism,  and  sacrifice  every  impulse  of 
honor ;  this  sealed  their  ruin  and  enstamped  their  lasting  dis- 
grace. The  question  now  arises,  what  are  the  influences  and  the 
circumstances  that  lead  men  into  the  high  and  damning  crimes, 
of  perjury  and  treaso*  ?  It  will  be  hard  to  frame  an  answer 
that  will  fit  every  case.  But  as  I  speak  for  the  benefit  of  those 
whom  I  stand  before  to-day,  I  will  say  I  have  made  the  answer 
to  this  question  a  matter  of  serious  inquiry  for  more  than  eigh- 
teen months.  The  duties  of  my  office  as  Chaplain  have  brought 
me  much  in  contact  Avith  this  class  of  men.  I  have  visited  twen- 
ty-four of  them  under  sentence  of  death  in  their  cells  of  con- 
finement, and  with  death  staring  them  in  the  face,  and  only  a  few 
short  hours  between  them  and  the  bar  of  God.  I  have  warned 
them  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  confess  everything  wrong  before 
God  and  man,  and  yet  I  have  hot  been  able  to  obtain  the  full, 
fair  and  frank  confession  of  everything  relating  to  their  guilt 


3  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

from  even  one  of  them,  that  I  thought  circumstances  demanded, 
although  I  had  baptized  ten  of  them  in  the  name  of  the  Holy 
Trinity.  In  confessing  their  crimes,  they  would  begin  at  New- 
"bern,  where  they  joined  the  enemy,  saying  nothing  about  per- 
jury and  desertion.  Every  man  of  the  twenty-two,  whose 
exeoution  you  witnessed,  confessed  that  bad  or  mischievous 
influences  had  been  used  with  him  to  influence  him  to  desert. 
All  but  two,  willingly  gave  me  the  names  of  their  seducer  s.  But 
none  of  these  deluded  and  ruined  men  seemed  to  think  he  ought 
to  suffer  the  penalty  of  death,  because  he  had  been  persuaded  to 
commit  these  high  crimes  by  other  men. 

But  gentlemen,  I  now  come  to  give  you  my  answer  to  the 
question  just  asked.  From  all  that  I  have  learned  in  the  prison, 
in  the  guard  house,  in  the  camp,  and  in  the  country,  I  am  fully 
satisfied,  that  the  great  amount  of  desertions  from  our  army 
are  produced  by,  and  are  the  fruits  of  a  bad,  mischievous, 
restless,  and  dissatisfied,  not  to  say  disloyal  influence  that  is  at 
work  in  the  country  at  home.  If  in  this  bloody  war  our  coun- 
try should  be  overrun,  this  same  mischievous  home  influence  will 
no  .doubt  be  the  prime  agent  in  producing  such  a  calamity.  Dis- 
contentment has,  and  does  exist  in  various  parts  of  the  State. 
We  hear  of  these  malcontents  holding  public  meetings,  not  for 
^the  purpose  of  supporting  the  Government  in  the  prosecution  of 
"'the  war,  and  maintenance  of  our  independence,  but  for<the  pur- 
pose of  finding  fault  with  the  Government.  Some  of  these 
meetings  have  been  dignified  with  the  name  of  "peace  meetings ;" 
some  have  been  ostensibly  called  for  other  purposes,  but  they 
have'  invariably  been  composed  of  men  who  talk  more  about 
their  "rights,"  than  about  their  duty  and  loyalty  to  their  coun- 
try. These  malcontents  profess  to  be  greatly  afflicted  in  mind 
about  ie  state  of  public  affairs.  In  their  doleful  croakings  tney 
are  apt  to  give  vent  to  their  melancholy  lamentations  in  such 
words  as  these:  "The  country  is  ruined!"  "We  are  whipt !" 
"We  might  as  well  give  up!"  "It  is  useless  to  attempt  to  fight 
any  longer  !"  "This  is  the  rich  man's  war  and  the  poor  man's 
fight;"  &c.  Some  newspapers  have  caught  the  mania  and  lent 
their  influence  to  this  work  of  mischief;  whilst  the  pulpit,  to 
the  scandal  of  its  character. for  faith  and  holiness,  has  belched 
forth  in  some  places  doctrines  and  counsels  through  the  minis- 
trations of  unworthy  occupants,  sufficient  to  cause  Christianity 
to  blush  under  all  the  circumstances.  I  would  here  remark,, 
standing  in  the  relation  which  I  do  before  you,  that  the  pulpit 
and  the  press,  when  true  and  loyal  to  the  Government  which 
affords  them  protection,  are  mighty  engines  for  good ;  but  when 
they  see  that  Government  engaged  in  a  bloody  struggle  for  ex- 
istence, and  show  themselves  opposed  to  its  efforts  to  maintain, 


FUNBEAL  DISCOURSE.  9 

its  authority  by  all  constitutional  and  legal  means,  such  a  press, 
and  such  pulpits  should  receive  no  support  for  an  hour  from  a 
people  that  would  he  free.  The  seal  of  condemnation  should 
consign  them  to  oblivion. 

Such  sentiments  as  ire  have  just  alluded  to,  are  sent  in  letters 
to  our  young  men  in  the   army,    by   writers   professing   to   be 
friends ;  often  uith  an  urgent  and  pressing  invitation  to  come 
home ;  and  some  have  even  added  that  execrable  and  detestable 
falsehood,  the  quintescence  of  treason,  "the  State  is  going  to 
secede."     Letters  coming  into  our  camps  on  the  Rappahannock 
and  Rapidan  sustain  this  position.     What  are  the  effects  pro- 
duced upon  our  young  men  In  the  ranks  ?     With  the  illiterate, 
they  are  baleful  indeed.   The  incautious  youth  takes  it  for  grant- 
ed that  the  country  is  ruined   and  that  the  Government  is  his 
enemy.     The  poisonous  contagion   of  treason  from  home  gets 
hold  m  his  mind  and  steals  into  his  feelings.     This  appeal  from 
home  has  overcome  him.    The  young  man  of  promise  and  of 
hope  once,  now  becomes  a  deserter.     Is  guilty  by  one  false  step 
of  the  awful  crimes  of  perjury  and  desertion.     The  solemn  obli- 
gations of  his  oath  are  disregarded;  he  takes  to  the  woods,  tra^ 
verses  weary  roads  by  night  for  days,  until  he  reaches  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  claims  his  home ;  but  for  what  ?   To  engage 
in  any  of  the  honorable  vocations  of  life '?     No,  gentlemen.  But 
to  he  hidden  from  the  face  of  all  good,  true  and  loyal  men.     But 
for  what  purpose  ?     To  keep  from  serving  his  country  as  a  man 
and  a  citizen.     To  consume  the  provisions  kept  in  the  country 
for  the  support  of  the  women  and  children,  families  of  soldiers 
who  are  serving  their  country,  indeed ;  and  lastly,  to  get  his  liv- 
ing in  part,  at  least,  by  stealing  and  robbing.     And  here  allow 
me  to  say,  I  am  not  sufficiently  skilled  in  language  to  command 
words  to  express  the  deep  and  unutterable  detestation  I  have  of 
the  character  of  a  deserter.     If  my  brother  were  to  be  guilty  of 
such  a  high  crime,  I  should  certainly  make  an  effort  to  have  his 
name  changed  to  something  else,  that  I,  and  my  children  after 
me,  might  not  feel  the  deep  and  lasting  disgrace  which  his  con- 
duct had  enstamped  upon  it. 

I  hold,  gentlemen,  that  there  are  few  crimes  in  the  sight  of 
either  God  or  man,  that  are  more  wicked  and  detestable  than 
desertion.  The  first  step  in  it  is  perjury.  Who  would  ever  be- 
lieve such  an  one  in  a  court  of  justice  again  ?  The  second,  is 
treason.  He  has  abandoned  the  flag  of  his  country ;  thus  much 
he  has  tided  the  common  enemy.  These  are  startling  crimes, 
indeed,  but  the  third  is  equally  so.  He  ens  tamps  disgrace  upon 
the  name  of  his  family  and  children. 

From  amidst  the  smoke  and  flames  of  Sinai  God  has  declared 
that  He  "is  a  jealous  God,  visiting  the  iniquities  of  the  fathers 


10  FUNERAL  DISCOUBSE. 

upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generations  of  them 
that  hate  me."  The  infamy  that  the  act  of  disloyalty  on  the 
part  of  a  father  places  his  children  in  after  him,  is  a  disability 
they  cannot  escape :  it  was  his  act,  not  theirs ;  and  to  them  it 
has  become  God's  visitation  according  to  the  text  quoted  above. 
The  character  of  infamy  acquired  by  the  tories  of  the  revolu- 
tion of  1V76,  is  to  this  day  imputed  to  their  descendants,  in  a 
genealogical  sense.  Disloyalty  is  a  crime  that  mankind  never 
forget  and  but  seldom  forgive ;  the  grave  cannot  cover  it.   ■ 

Many  cry  out  in  this  the  day  of  our  discontent,  and  say,  "we 
want  peace."  This  is  true,  we  all  want  peace,  the  land  mourns 
on  account  of  the  absence  of  peace,  and  we  all  pray  for  peace. 
You  have  often  heard  me  pray  for  peace,  but  I  think  you  will 
bear  me  witness  to-day  that  you  have  never  heard  me  pray  for 
peace  without  independence.  God  forbid  that  we  should  have 
a  peace  that  brought  no  independence. 

But  how  are  we  to  obtain  peace  ?  There  are  but  two  modes 
known  by  which  to  obtain  this  most  desirable  boon.  First:  to 
lay  down  our  arms,  cease  to  fight,  and  submit  to  the  terms  of 
our  enemy,  the  tyrant  at  Washington.  Fortunately  for  us,  we 
already  know  what  those  terms  are.  They  stand  recorded  in 
his  law  books,  and  in  his  published  orders  and  edicts,— and  con- 
stitute with  our  enemies,  the  lata  of  the  ianat  so  far  as  we  are  con- 
cerned. 

1.  The  lands  of  our  citizens  are  to  be  sold  for  the  purpose  of 
paying  the  enormous  public  debt  of  the  Yankees.  This  part  of 
the  programme  has  already  been  put  into  operation  at  points 
held  by  the  enemy,  as  in  Fairfax  county,  Va.,  and  Beaufort,  S. 
C  In  the  latter  place,  the  lands  have  been  laid  off  into  thirty 
acre  lots,  and  bought  mostly  by  negroes. 

2.  The  negroes,  everywhere,  to  be  declared  free,  and  placed 
upon  a  state  of  equality  with  the  whites. 

3.  Every  man  who  has  taken  any  part  in  the  war,  denied  the 
right  of  voting  at  the  polls. 

4.  Our  Governors  and  Judges  appointed  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment at  Washington,  and  sent  to  rule  over  us  at  his  pleasure. 

5.  Even  the  men  selected  to  administer  to  us  in  holy  things 
at  the  altars  of  our  God,  must  be  men  approved  and  appointed 
by  his  military  authorities ;  as  it  is  now  done  in  Norfolk  and 
Portsmouth,  where  I  am  acquainted. 

In  addition  to  this,  gentlemen,  we  of  course  will  have  to  en- 
dure the  deep  and  untold  mortification  of  having  bands  of  negro 
soldiers  stationed  in  almost  every  neighborhood,  to  enforce  these 
laws  and  regulations. 

These  things  would  be  some  of  the  "blessings"  we  would 
obtain  by  such  a  peace.     Tell  me  to-day,  sons  of  Carolina,  would 


FUSEEALDISCOUESE.  11 

sot  such  a  peace  bring  ten-fold  more  horrors  and  distress  to  onr 
■country  than  this  war  has  yet  produced  ?  Can  any  people  on 
the  face  of  this  earth,  fit  to  be  freemen,  ever  accept  a  peace  that 
will  place  them  in  such  a  condition  ?     1ST  ever !  never !  never  ! 

The  great  and  good  Stonewall  Jackson,  a  few  weeks  before 
his  death  was  talking  with  a  friend  about  the  probable  issue  of 
the  war ;  the  conversation  turned  upon  the  possibility  of  the 
-Confederate  States  being  brought  again  under  the  rule  an-d  au- 
thority of  the  United  States ;  when  our  illustrious  chief  re- 
marked, that  if  he  could  have  his  choice  in  view  of  such  a 
contingency,  he  would  prefer  the  grave  as  his  refuge.  "What 
patriot  would  not  ?  "What  soldier  would  not  ?  What  freeman 
would  not  ?  This  was  the  noble  sentiment  of  a  man  whom  we 
all  believed  to  be  fit  to  five,  or  fit  to  die. 

The  other  mode  by  which  to  obtain  peace,  is  to  fight  it  out  to 
the  bitter  end,  as  our  forefathers  did  in  the  revolution  of  1776, 
and  reduce  our  enemies,  by  our  manly  defence,  to  the  necessity 
of  acknowledging  our  independence,  and  "letting  us  alone." — 
We  are  involved  in  this  bloody  war,  and  the  question  before  us 
is,  not  how  did  we  get  into  it,  but  how  shall  we  get  out  of  it  ? 

Many  tell  us  the  war  cloud  looks  dark  and  impenetrable  to 
.mortal  vision.  This  is  all  true.  But  are  we  not  men  ?  Have 
we  not  buckled  on  the  armor,  putting  our  trust  in  the  Lord  of 
hosts,  as  the  arbiter  of  our  destiny  as  a  nation  ?  Shall  we  then 
lay  down  our  arms  before  we  are  overthrown?  God  forbid! 
Sons  of  Carolina,  let  your  battle-cry  be,  Onward !  Onward  ! 
until  victory  shall  crown  the  beautiful  banner  that  floats  over  us 
to-day  with  such  a  peace  as  freemen  only  love,  and  brave  "men 
only  can  accept.  We  are  engaged  in  a  mighty  work,  the  estab- 
lishment of  an  empire,  which  we  trust  by  the  blessing  of  God 
will  become  the  freest,  the  best  and  the  greatest  on  the  face  of 
the  earth.  Every  man  must  act  his  part  in  this  great  work.  Let 
us  then  look  to  the  manner  in  which  we  perform  the  part  which 
duty  assigns,  that  there  may  be  no  regrets  or  heart-burnings 
hereafter.  For  just  as  sure  as  this  cruel  war  began,  it  will  have 
an  end,  and  that  end  is  nearer  now  than  when  it  began.  And 
when  the  sweet  and  lovely  days  of  delightful  peace  return  to 
cheer  us,  and  friend  meets  with  friend,  and  talk  over  the  trials, 
the  perils  and  sufferings  we  have  endured  in  freedom's  cause  ; 
with  what  emotions  of  pleasure  shall  we  speak  of  the  soldier 
ever  true  and  faithful  who  stood  by  us,  faithful  alike  both  in  the 
sunshine  and  storm  of  war.  But  what  will  then  be  said  of  the 
miserable  skulker  ?  May  God  give  him  a  better  heart  that  he 
may  become  a  better  man  and  a  better  soldier. 

From  the  position  which  I  occupy,  I  have  been  enabled  to 
notice  deserters  and  skulkers  close! v,  and  I  have  made  it  my  bu- 


12  FUNERAL   DISCOURSE. 

siness  to  inquire  into  their  history,  and  I  am  happy  to  say  for 
the  credit  of  Christianity,  that  among  the  multitude  I  have 
known  guilty  of  desertion,  only  three  of  that  number  professed 
to  be  members  of  any  Church,  and  they  had  been  no  credit  to 
the  religion  they  professed,  as  it  lived  only  upon  their  lips  and 
was  a  stranger  in  their  hearts. 

The  true  christian  is  always  a  true  patriot.  Patriotism  and 
Christianity  walk  hand  in  hand.  When  perils  and  dangers 
gather  around  the  country  that  protects  him,  he  then  belongs  to 
no  party  but  his  country's  party ;  his  leyalty  must  stand  un- 
questioned and  unquestionable.  As  one  that  fears  God,  he  knows 
that,  if  a  man  is  not  for  his  country,  he  is  against  it.  Hence, 
there  is  no  neutral  ground  or  position  for  him  to  occupy  ;  but  to 
staod  by  his  country  as  its  fast,  unwavering  friend,  that  its  tri- 
umph may  be  his  triumph,  and  its  destiny  his  destiny.  There  is 
no  toryism  in  a  Christian's  heart.  The  two  principles  cannot 
dwell  together. 

War  is  the  scourge  of  nations.  God  is  no  doubt  chastising 
us  for  our  good.  When  the  ends  of  His  providence  are  accom- 
plished, He  will  no  doubt  remove  the  rod.  But  the  ways  of  His 
providence  are  generaUy  dark  to  mortal  vision.  Yet  He  is  able 
to  bring  light  out  of  darkness.  We  are  only  drinking  now  from 
a  cup,  from  which  every  nation  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  have 
drank  before  us.  We  have  walked  the  bloody  road  of  revolu- 
tion for  three  years  ;  and  still  we  face  the  foe.  Our  fathers  trod 
it  for  seven,  and  in  the  end  were  successful. 

The  pious  Dr.  Watts  tells  us  in  one  of  his  beautiful  hymns,, 
that, 

"God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way, 

His  wonders  to  perform  ; 
He  plants  his  footsteps  in  the  sea, 
And  rides  upon  the  storm." 

His  ways  with  the  nations  of  the  earth  are  deeply  mysterious 
to  mortal  vision,  and  whilst  they  are  the  exhibitions  of  His  ma- 
jesty and  power,  we  should  regard  them  likewise  as  the  evidences 
of  His  goodness  and  mercy  towards  fallen  man.  As  He  deals 
with  individuals,  so  dees  He  deal  with  nations.  He  litteth  up 
one  and  putteth  down  another  ;  but  all  this  is  done  for  the  good 
of  the  whole.  Kighteousness  exalteth  a  nation,  but  sin  is  a  re- 
proach to  any  people,  is  the  doctrine  laid  down  in  Holy  Writ.  ' 
Proud  Egypt,  the  cradle  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  has  sadly  fall- 
en from  her  ancient  glory  and  splendor.  Ezekiel,  speaking  as 
the  oracle  of  God,  and  accusing  her  of  her  sins,  declared  "she 
shall  become  the  basest  of  the  kingdoms,"  and  the  words  of  the 
Seer  have  become  verified  to  the  letter.  For  transgression,  the 
vhosen  people  of  God,  the  Israelites,  were  compelled  to  wander 


FUXEEAL     DISCOURSE.  18 

forty  years  in  the  Arabian  desert,  thus  suffering  the  chastisement 
of  the  disfavor  of  offended  Deity.  And  when  they  were  per- 
mitted to  cross  over  Jordan  into  the  land  of  promise,  they  were 
required  to  do  a  strange  and  wondrous  work;  namely,  to  des- 
troy the  nations  of  this  goodly  land  and  possess  it  for  their  own 
inheritance.  The  sins  of  these  nations  had  cried  unto  heaven, 
and  Israel  became  the  instrument  in  the  hand  of  God  by  which 
the  judgments  of  offended  Justice  was  meted  out  to  the  guilty 
nations.  Jerusalem,  the  lovely,  queenly  Jerusalem,  whose  beau- 
tiful temple  was  the  glory  of  the  Whole  earth,  in  which  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Eternal  Shekinah  was  visible  annually  to  mortal  eye, 
and  where  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  once  reigned — sinned  with 
an  high  hand  against  God ;  she  knew  not  the  day  of  her  visita- 
tion, the  cup  of  her  iniquity  was  full;  the  judgment  of  offended 
heaven  overtook  her ;  her  glory  departed  ;  the  besom  of  destruc- 
tion swept  over  her,  and  she  is  now  trodden  down  by  the  gen- 
tiles— a  crumbling  monument  of  her  departed  greatness. 

Babylon,  onae  the  proud  mistress  of  the  East,  whose  spacious 
walls.,  hanging  gardens,  and  lofty  temples  stood  as  the  wonders 
of  the  world,  and  Daniel,  the  prophet,  robed  in  the  vestments 
of  royal  honors,  once  spake  and  wrote  by  heaven's  prompting  of 
things  to  come — has  fallen ;  her  greatness  is  lost ;  her  walls  have 
perished  ;  her  palaces  have  crumbled  ;  her  temples  are  entombed, 
and  the  wandering  Arab  now  nightly  pitches  his  tent  over  the 
spot  where  Belshazzar  held  his  impious  feast.  Where  is  Kine- 
veh?  The  mighty  Xineveh?  And  Tadmor,  and  Persepolis, 
and  hundred-gated  Thebes  ?  They  belong  only  to  the  past ;  the 
silence  of  death  has  spread  its  sepulchral  pall  over  them,  and 
the  relics  of  fallen  greatness  alone  remain  to  mark  the  spot 
where  they  lie  entombed.  Sparta  has  departed  from  the  map 
of  nations,  and  Athens  is  but  the  tomb  of  the  Athens  that  was. 
These  have  all  sinned,  and  "there  is  a  God  that  judgeth  in  the 
earth." 

Four  years  ago,  these  Confederate  States  formed  an  integral 
part  of  the  U.  States.  Perhaps  no  nation  of  people  ever  sinned 
against  more  light,  and  abused  more  privileges  than  the  United 
States.  The  Korthern  pulpits  hatched  and  fostered  the  spirit 
that  produced  this  cruel  and  bloody  war  :  but  cruel  and  bloody 
as  it  is,  I  believe  in  God,  to-day,  that  great  good  will  come  to  us 
of  the  South  as  a  people,  if  we  will  only  depart  from  our  sins 
and  lean  upon  the  Almighty  Arm.  If  He  be  for  us,  who  #an 
stand  successfully  against  us?  -  He  gave  to  our  fathers  a  Wash- 
ington, a  man  who  feared  God,  to  guide  them  through  the  revo- 
lution of  1778.  lie  lias  given  to  us  a  Lee,  a  man  of  like  faith 
and  of  like  hopes,  to  be  our  leader  in  these  dark  days  of  trial, 
and  we  all  love  to  follow  where  he  leads. 


li  funeral   discourse. 

He  lent  to  us  a  Jackson,  that  bright  and  shiaing  light  of  Chris- 
tianity, whose  ardent  piety  and  strong  faith,  always  presented 
the  same  beauties,  in  the  halls  of  science,  at  the  altars  of  God, 
around  the  camp-fires,  or  on  the  battle-field.  Oh,  what  a  model 
of  a  Christian  soldier !  Well  do  I  remember  how  his  presence 
cheered  us  as  he  rode  along  our  line  on  the  morning  of  the  first 
battle  of  Fredericksburg,  after  the  artillery  began  to  roar  heavi- 
ly. His  very  appearance  seemed  to  be  the  presage  of  victory. 
He  seemed  like  one  sent  by  God.  But  God  has  seen  proper  in 
His  providence  to  take  him  away,  and  whatsoever  He  doeth  is 
right.  Let  us  then  bow  to  the  hand  that  afflicts  in  such  dispen- 
sations as  this,  take  courage,  and  press  onward. 

Let  us  then  humble  ourselves  before  God  as  a  people,  confess 
our  sins,  and  implore  His  protecting  power  to  guide  us  through 
this  mighty  struggle  to  a  successful  issue.  He  has  certainly  done 
great  things  for  us  as  a  people,  Avhereof  we  should  be  glad. 

I  think  you  will  bear  me  witness  that  I  have  never  been  hope- 
fid  of  an  early  peace  in  my  intercourse  among  you.  But  to-day 
I  fancy  that  I  can  discover  a  little  cloud,  in  the  political  heavens 
as  large  as  a  man's  hand  at  least,  that  seems  to  portend  peace. 
Take  courage,  then,  companions  in  arms.  All  things  around  us 
to-day  bid  us  be  of  good  courage.  History  fails  to  tell  us  often 
millions  of  freemen  being  enslaved,  who  had  determined  to  be 
free.  A  braver  or  more  patriotic  army  than  we  have,  never  fol- 
lowed their  chief  to  victory.  Their  endurance  challenges  the 
admiration  of  the  world.  When  I  have  seen  our  brave  men  in 
winter's  cold  and  summer's  heat,  marching  from  battle-field:  to 
battle-field,  bare-footed  as  they  were  born,  and  without  a  mur- 
mur, I  could  not  doubt  our  final  success.  Such  men  as  these, 
were  never  horn  to  he  slaves.  Again,  when  I  have  turned  my  eye 
homeward  from  the  camp,  and  witnessed  the  labors  of  our  fair 
country  women,  in  preparing  clothing  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
suffering  in  the  field,  and  witnessed  their  untiring  devotion  to 
the  relief  of  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  hospitals,  I  knew  that 
the  history  of  no  country,  and  of  no  age  afforded  anything  like 
a  parallel,  and  my  faith  assured  me  we  never  were  born  to  fee 
the  slaves  of  Yankees.  Then  let  your  trust  to-day  be  strong  in 
the  God  of  nations. 

Surely,  then,  no  man  can  be  found  in  all  our  land  who  owes 
allegiance  to  his  country,  that  is  so  lost  to  himself,  and  to  all 
that  is  noble  and  patriotic,  as  to  say,  "I  am  for  the  Union  as  it 
was."  Such  an  one  could  only  merit  the  good  man's  scorn,  and 
desire  the  tory's  infamy  for  himself,  and  disgrace  for  his 
children. 

Gentlemen,  I  have  followed  your  fortunes  for  twenty  months, 
leaving    wife  and  children  far  behind   me.     I  have    rejoiced    in, 


FUNIEAL    DISCOURSE.  IS 

your  prosperity,  and  mourned  over  your  adversity."  Marches, 
battles,  sufferings  are  before,  us  still.  #  By  the  help  of  God  I  am 
with  you,  and  hope  still  to  be  with  y©u  to  share  in  your  tri- 
umphs, your  sufferings  and  your  joys.  If  these  be  the  days  to 
try  men's  souls,  for  my  country's  sake  I  am  willing  to  be  tried, 
by  bearing  my  humble  part  in  this  mighty  struggle. 

For,  standing  before  you  to-day,  you  most  permit  me  to  say 
in  the  language  of  a  noble  patriot,  "I  am  for  my  country  right, 
yea,  for  my  country  wrong."  My  loyalty  to  her  is  unqualified, 
and  without  any  condition^.  Her  cause  is  always  my  cause.  If 
her  cause  be  right,  she  shall  have  my  free  support;  if  it  be 
wrong,  she  shall  have  my  unqualified  support.  Therefore,  when 
I  shall  sleep  in  the  dust,  you  must  not  say  to  my  children,  "your 
father  was  a  conservative,  (or  any  other  name,)  when  his  coun- 
try was  engaged  in  a  bloody  struggle  for  existence."  Then  you 
would  do  me  wrong,  and  do  them  wrong  also.  I  belong  only  to 
my  country's  party.  But  it  may  be  said,  that  I  can  afford  to  use 
string  language  when  I  am  not  required  to  take  position  in  the 
front  ranks  on  the  battle-field.  The  duties  of  my  office  require 
me,  as  you  are  aware,  to  take  position  in  the  rear,  to  assist  with 
the  wounded, — but  yet  at  Fredericksburg,  William  sport,  Mine 
Run,  and  Batchelor's  Creek,  I  was  under  the  fire  of  both  artille- 
ry and  musketry,  and  I  will  here  add  that  if  ever  my  country 
calls  upon  me  to  fall  into  ranks  in  her  defence  with  a  musket  on 
my  shoulder,  my  answer  shall  be,  "here  am  I." 

Then,  to-day,  in  the  light  of  this  beautiful  Sabbath  sun,  let  us 
take  courage,  and  with  renewed  trust  in  God,  resolve  to  do  our 
whole  duty  as  patriots  and  soldiers,  and  leave  the  event  to  the 
Arbiter  of  nations.     Amen  I 


* 


